Wearable computing device

ABSTRACT

Some forms relate to wearable computing devices that include a “touch pad” like interface. In some forms, the example wearable computing devices may be integrated with (or attached to) textiles (i.e. clothing). In other forms, the example wearable computing devices may be attached directly to the skin of someone (i.e., similar to a bandage) that utilizes any of the example wearable computing devices. The example wearable computing devices include a flexible touch pad that may allow a user of the wearable computing device to more easily operate the wearable computing device. The example wearable computing devices described herein may include a variety of electronics. Some examples include a power supply and/or a communication device among other types of electronics.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/778,142, filed Sep. 18, 2015, which is a U.S. National StageApplication under 35 U.S.C. 371 from International Application No.PCT/US2014/070632 filed Dec. 16, 2014, each of which are herebyincorporated by refrence in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a computing device, andmore particularly to a wearable computing device.

BACKGROUND

Wearable computing devices enable various approaches to managingdifferent types of applications where computing power may be utilized toenhance the application. As examples, healthcare and fitness areexamples of just a couple of applications that may utilize wearablecomputing devices.

Some existing wearable computing devices include glasses, bracelets andsmart watches. Sometimes the size and/or the shape of a device make itchallenging to provide user input give input into a wearable computingdevice. As examples, smart watches and bracelets may be operated bytouch sensitive surfaces on the device or with knobs.

Other wearable computing devices (e.g., glasses) may be difficult tooperate using knobs. The user input to glasses may be done byvoice-operated commands, hand movement recognition in front of theglasses or eye motion control.

One class of wearable computing devices that is rising in importancerelates to textiles which include integrated electronic devices. Thesewearable computing devices typically require a user interface. In someforms, a touch pad is integrated in the textile to receive user inputand/or display data.

One of the challenges with conventional touch pad systems is that theytypically require a large number of conductive lines that each needs tobe monitored by its own detector. In addition, scaling such touch padsto a larger size means increasing the number of conductive lines andcorresponding detectors.

One common type of touch pad relates to capacitive touch pads.Capacitive touch pads are sensitive to a change of dielectric constantin the vicinity of the touch pad. Capacitive touch pads may beincorporated into wearable computing devices that are integrated intextiles meant to be worn on the body.

One of the drawbacks with incorporating capacitive touch pads intotextiles meant to be worn on the body is that there may often be strongnoise by capacitive interaction with the body of the person wearing thewearable computing device. This strong noise due to capacitiveinteraction with the body may negatively affect performance of wearablecomputing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating example places where thewearable computing devices may be placed on a human body.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an example wearable computing device thatincludes a touch pad having a boundary area.

FIG. 3 shows the wearable computing device of FIG. 2 where the wearablecomputing device includes a hook-and-loop attachment system.

FIG. 4 shows the wearable computing device of FIG. 2 where the wearablecomputing device includes an adhesive.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic side view of an example personalizedwearable computing device.

FIGS. 6-8 show another example wearable computing device that includestransmission lines which are integrated into a touch pad.

FIGS. 9-10 show another example wearable computing device that includesoptical fibers which are integrated into a touch pad.

FIGS. 11-13 show the progression of bringing the optical fibers shown inFIGS. 9-10 together to pass light between the optical fibers.

FIG. 14 illustrates another example wearable computing device thatincludes a touch pad.

FIG. 15 is block diagram of an electronic apparatus that includes theelectronic assemblies and/or the electronic packages described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustratespecific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practicethem. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical,process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodimentsmay be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalentsof those claims.

Orientation terminology, such as “horizontal,” as used in thisapplication is defined with respect to a plane parallel to theconventional plane or surface of a wafer or substrate, regardless of theorientation of the wafer or substrate. The term “vertical” refers to adirection perpendicular to the horizontal as defined above.Prepositions, such as “on,” “side” (as in “sidewall”), “higher,”“lower,” “over,” and “under” are defined with respect to theconventional plane or surface being on the top surface of the wafer orsubstrate, regardless of the orientation of the wafer or substrate.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating example places X where wearablecomputing devices may be placed on a human body B. Several examplewearable computing devices that include a “touch pad” like interface aredescribed herein. In some forms, the example wearable computing devicesmay be integrated with (or attached to) textiles (i.e. clothing). Inother forms, the example wearable computing devices may be attacheddirectly to the skin of someone (i.e., similar to a bandage) thatutilizes any of the example wearable computing devices.

The example wearable computing devices described herein include aflexible touch pad that may allow a user of the wearable computingdevice to more easily operate the wearable computing device. As anexample, the flexible touch pad may include a cursor that may be movedor items so that items may be “clicked” in a discrete way (e.g., in asimilar manner as is done with laptops and smart phones).

The example wearable computing devices described herein may include avariety of electronics. Some examples include a power supply and/or acommunication device among other types of electronics.

In addition, a user may be able to more easily operate the wearablecomputing device that includes the flexible touch pad without fingerfidgeting or speaking commands thereby maintaining user privacy.Eliminating finger fidgeting and/or speaking commands may be especiallyimportant for online banking or password typing applications.

One of the drawbacks with existing systems is that there may beinaccurate user input caused by the system misinterpreting spokencommands due to background noise. Another of the drawbacks with existingsystems is that there may be unwanted user input that is caused bymotion near the system. As an example, motion near the system may causeunwanted and/or misinterpreted input gesture analysis by such systems.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an example wearable computing device 1 thatincludes a flexible support 2 configured to be worn by a user of theexample wearable computing device 1. The example wearable computingdevice 1 further includes a flexible touch pad 3 mounted to the flexiblesupport 2.

As used herein “flexible” refers to the ability of the flexible touchpad 3 and the flexible support 2 to bend. The amount of bending will bedetermined in part on the application where any of the example wearablecomputing devices 1, 10, 20, 30, 40 described herein are to be used. Asan example, the degree of bending may be different when the examplewearable computing devices described herein are integrated with (ordetachably connected to) textiles (i.e. clothing) as opposed when theexample wearable computing devices described herein are attacheddirectly to the skin of someone that utilizes any of the examplewearable computing devices 1, 10, 20, 30, 40.

The example wearable computing device 1 further includes an integratedcircuit(s) 4 mounted to the flexible support 2. The integrated circuit 4interprets contact with the flexible touch pad 3.

The type of integrated circuit(s) 4 that are included in the examplewearable computing device 1 will depend in part on the operations thatthe example wearable computing device 1 is to perform. It should benoted that the integrated circuit 4 may any type of integrated circuitthat is known now, or discovered in the future.

The example wearable computing device 1 further includes a transceiver 6mounted to the flexible support 2. The transceiver 6 sends and receiveswireless signals to and from a separate electronic device 7 (e.g., viaBluetooth, Zigbee, etc.).

The separate electronic device 7 may also be worn by the user (e.g., asglasses or a power supply) or operate as an entity separate from theuser's body. In some forms, the separate electronic device 7 may beside-by-side to the flexible touch pad 3, below the flexible touch pad 3or anywhere else on or off the body depending on the form of the examplewearable computing device 1.

The inclusion of a separate electronic device 7 may allow the wearablecomputing device 1 that includes the flexible support 2 and the flexibletouch pad 3 to be more easily (i) configured into textiles that areincorporated into clothing; (ii) configured to be detachably connectedto clothing worn by the user; and/or (iii) configured to be detachablymounted directly to the user's skin.

in the example wearable computing device 1 shown in FIG. 2, the flexibletouch pad 3 includes a boundary area 8. The integrated circuit 4 and thetransceiver 6 may be in the boundary area 8 of the flexible touch pad 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the example wearable computing device 1 may furtherinclude a detachment mechanism 9 for selectively attaching the wearablecomputing device 1 to the user's body. FIG. 3 shows the wearablecomputing device 1 of FIG. 2 where the detachment mechanism 9 includeshook-and-loop attachment system H. FIG. 4 shows the wearable computingdevice 1 of FIG. 2 where the detachment mechanism 9 includes an adhesiveA such that the wearable computing device 1 may be detachably connectedto the user's skin or clothing using the adhesive A.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic side view of an example wearablecomputing device 10 where user inputs to the wearable computing device10 may be personalized. The wearable computing device 10 includes aflexible support 11 that is configured to be worn by a user U that wearsthe wearable computing device 10.

The wearable computing device 10 includes a flexible touch pad 12 thatis mounted to the flexible support 11 and an integrated circuit 13mounted to the flexible support 11. The integrated circuit 13 detectscontact with the flexible touch pad 12 when the contact is made only bythe user U that is wearing the wearable computing device 10 and no otherusers.

In some forms, the integrated circuit 13 determines that contact is madeonly by the user U that is wearing the wearable computing device and noother users by sending an electrical signal 14 through the user's skin.The flexible touch pad 12 only recognizes contact with the flexibletouch pad 12 when the contact passes the electrical signal 14 to theflexible touch pad 12. As an example, the integrated circuit 13 may sendan electrical signal 14 through the user's skin to the user's finger F.

It should be noted that the integrated circuit 13 may generate any typeof electrical signal 14 that may be suitable for personalizing contactby the user with the flexible touch pad 12. As an example, theelectrical signal 14 may be at a designated trigger frequency. If theuser' skin is touching the wearable computing device 10, the wearablecomputing device 10 may recognize the trigger frequency and recognizethe contact as an input to the wearable computing device 10.

Therefore, if the wearable computing device 10 is touched by anon-designated user without the right trigger frequency the wearablecomputing device 10 may ignore the input. Personalizing a triggerfrequency may avoid unwanted inputs by other people accidentlycontacting the wearable computing device 10.

In some, a low voltage trigger frequency might be applied from thewearable computing device 10 via a contact 16 (e.g., a Cu-Stud orbodkin) on the wearable computing device 10 to the skin of thedesignated user U. Requiring an appropriate trigger frequency whencontacting the wearable computing device 10 may avoid unwanted inputs onthe wearable computing device 10, especially when the designated user isoperating the wearable computing device 10 in crowded places likebusses, trains, etc.

FIG. 6 shows another example wearable computing device 20 that includesa flexible transmission line 21A which is integrated into a flexibletouch pad 22. The flexible touch pad 22 configured to be worn by a user.The wearable computing device 20 further includes a first detector 24Aat an end of the flexible transmission line 21A.

The wearable computing device 20 further includes an integrated circuit23 mounted to the flexible touch pad 22. The integrated circuit 23interprets contact with the flexible touch pad 22 by sending a firstelectrical signal through the first transmission line 21A anddetermining a localized change in impedance in the first transmissionline 21A by using time domain reflectotnetry (as an example). Touchingand deforming the transmission line 21A (e.g., at point P) leads to alocal change of its line impedance.

The meandering structure of transmission line 21A over the flexibletouch pad 22 may allow for partial localization. As shown in FIG. 7, thepartial localization provided by transmission line 21A may be withinarea A1.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flexible touch pad 22 may further include asecond flexible transmission line 21B. The integrated circuit 23interprets contact with the flexible touch pad 22 by sending a secondelectrical signal through the second transmission line 21B anddetermining a localized change in impedance in the second transmissionline 21B by using time domain reflectornetry (as an example). Thewearable computing device 20 further includes a second detector 24B atan end of the second flexible transmission line 21 b.

Combining information from the two overlapping transmission lines 21A,21B may allow for more accurate contact localization. The meanderingstructure of transmission lines 21A, 21B back and forth fromside-to-side over the flexible touch pad 22 may allow for furtherlocalization. As an example, combining information from the transmissionlines 21A, 21B, the localization may be further narrowed to within areaA2.

In the example form illustrated in FIG. 8, the second transmission line21B is oriented perpendicularly to the transmission line 21A at each ofthe multiple points where the first and second transmission line 21A,21B cross one another. It should be noted that in other forms, thetransmission lines 21A, 21B may cross at other angles.

One potential benefit of the wearable computing device 20 is that thenumber of detectors does not increase as the size of the touch pad 22increases. As an example, the wearable computing device 20 may requireonly two detectors 24A, 24B instead of the numerous detectors that arerequired with conventional touch pads. Therefore, the resolution of theflexible touch pad 22 is not related to the area of the flexible touchpad 22 making the wearable computing device 20 suitable for use with awide range of flexible touch pad 22 sizes.

In addition, if the wearable computing device 20 is integrated intoclothing, there is no noise due to capacitive coupling with the body ofthe person wearing the wearable computing device 20. The lack ofcapacitive coupling may improve the performance of the wearablecomputing device 20.

In some forms of the wearable computing device 20, the transmissionlines 21A, 21B are coax lines or twisted pair lines that are integratedinto the flexible touch pad 22. The layout of each of the transmissionlines 21A, 21B may cover the whole touch pad 22 area (e.g., in themeander-like geometry shown in FIG. 8).

As discussed above, touching and deforming each of the transmissionlines 21A, 21B leads to a local change in impedance of each transmissionline 21A, 21B. In some forms, radio frequency pulses are fed into therespective transmission lines 21A, 21B. The respective radio frequencypulses are reflected by the impedance discontinuity created by thetouching and deforming.

The position of the deformity along each transmission line may becalculated from the time between the original and the reflected pulse(e.g., using Time Domain Reflectometry). In addition, the first andsecond detectors 24A, 24B may be used for each respective transmissionline 21A, 21B in order to detect the position of the deformity alongeach transmission line 21A, 21B.

The resolution of the wearable computing device 20 may depend in part onhow accurately the delay between the propagating and the reflected pulsecan be measured. The resolution does not depend on the absolute lengthof the transmission lines 21A, 21B making the wearable computing device20 readily scalable to longer line lengths, and correspondingly largerflexible touch pad 22 areas.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative form of a wearable computing device 30 thatincludes a flexible touch pad 32 configured to be worn by a user. Ascompared to the wearable computing device 20, the two transmission lines21A, 21B may be replaced by the first and second optical fibers 31A,31B. The wearable computing device 30 further includes a first detector33A at an end of the first optical fiber 31A and a second detector 33Bat an end of the second optical fiber 31B.

The wearable computing device 30 further includes an integrated circuit34 mounted to the flexible touch pad 32. The integrated circuit 34interprets contact with the flexible touch pad 32 by sending radiationthrough the first and second optical fibers 31A, 31B to the respectivefirst and second detectors 33A, 3313. The radiation propagates betweenthe first and second optical fibers 31A, 31B when the first and secondoptical fibers 31A, 31B are forced near each other due to contact withthe flexible touch pad 32. The location of the contact with the flexibletouch pad 32 is determining by analyzing the radiation propagation timesthrough the first and second optical fibers 31A, 31B to the respectivefirst and second detectors 33A, 33B.

When the two optical fibers 31A, 31B are pressed against each other,radiation (i.e., electromagnetic radiation, light, visible light,infrared light) may propagate between two optical fibers 31A, 31B. Thelocation of the contact (i.e., applied pressure) to the touch pad 32 maybe obtained by analyzing the signal propagation times.

In the example form shown in FIG. 9, the two optical fibers 31A, 31Bhave a detector 33A, 33B at each respective end. The two optical fibers31A, 31B are configured in a way that allows light to propagate betweenthe two optical fibers 31A, 31B when the two optical fibers 31A, 31Bfibers are pressed against each other (i.e., due to contact with theflexible touch pad).

In some forms, the first optical fiber 31A meanders back and forth fromside to side over the flexible touch pad 32 without crossing. Inaddition, the second optical fiber 31B meanders back and forth from sideto side over the flexible touch pad 32 without crossing. The firstoptical fiber 31A and the second optical fiber 31B cross each other atseveral locations.

The principle of position detection when using the radiation light)propagation between the two optical fibers 31A, 31B will now bedescribed relative to FIG. 10. The two meandering optical fibers 31A,31B have been replaced by straight optical fibers 34A, 34B with only oneintersection 35.

Measurements of the propagation times from inputs to detectors 33A, 33Bgive the distances x1−y1, x2+y2, x1+x2 and y1+y2. From these determineddistances x1, x2, y1, y2, may be calculated to establish the position ofthe intersection 35.

The radiation propagation times may be determined by measuring theamount time it takes for (i) a first radiation to travel through thefirst optical fiber 34A to the second detector 33B after propagation ofthe radiation from the first optical fiber 34A to the second opticalfiber 34B; and (ii) a second radiation to travel through the secondoptical fiber 34B to the first detector 33A after propagation of theradiation from the second optical fiber 34B to the first optical fiber34A. In some forms, the first radiation is at a different frequency thanthe second radiation.

It should be noted that in the case multiple intersections of meanderingoptical fibers 31A, 31B, a pulse is fed into one optical fiber (e.g.,optical fiber 31A) which results in several pulses arriving at thedetector 33B of the other optical fiber (e.g., optical fiber 31B). Eachpulse received by the detector 33B corresponds to an intersection andmay be analyzed as described above.

FIGS. 11-13 show the progression of bringing the optical fibers 31A, 31Bshown in FIG. 9 together to pass light between the optical fibers 31A,31B. In some forms, the optical fibers 31A, 31B may each include a core37A, 37B through which the light propagates. The optical fibers 31A, 31Bmay further include a cladding 38A, 38B with a lower index of refractionthat ensures almost total reflection at the interface between the cores37A, 37B and the respective claddings 38A, 38B.

As shown in FIGS. 11-13, upon pressing the optical fibers 31A, 31Bagainst each other, the cores 37A, 37B get very close to each other (seeFIG. 12) and may eventually touch (see FIG. 13). If the cores 37A, 37Bget close enough to each other, light will propagate between the cores37A, 37B.

As shown in FIG. 12, the claddings 38A, 38B may be a compressiblecladding comprising a silicone material). In addition, the cores 37A,37B may be compressible to increase surface area contact between thecores 37A, 37B upon contacting the flexible touch pad 32 (see FIG. 13)

In some forms, the area where the cores 37A, 37B almost touch, or touch,may be increased by using a soft, deformable core material. Inalternative forms, only an outer layer of the cores 37A, 37B maycomprise a softer material.

FIG. 14 illustrates another example wearable computing device 40 thatincludes a flexible touch pad 42. The example wearable computing device40 includes conductive fibers 41A, 41B that detect pressure on theconductive fibers 41A, 41B.

The conductive fibers 41A, 41B include a plurality of conducting fibersthat are arranged in an intersecting configuration over the flexibletouch pad 42 as shown in FIG. 14. It should be noted that each of theconductive fibers 41A, 41B may be an individual fiber or a composite offibers.

The example wearable computing device 40 further includes an integratedcircuit 44 mounted to the flexible touch pad 42. The integrated circuit44 interprets contact with the flexible touch pad 42 by detecting achange in resistance between intersecting conducting fibers 41A, 41B.

The conductive fibers 41A, 41B may carry electrical signals. Inaddition, each conducting fiber may be electrically isolated from everyother conducting fiber until there is contact with the flexible touchpad 42. As an example, the conductive fibers 41A, 41B may be arrangedand may be used to detect the contact location in a manner known fromthe cell locations in a DRAM device.

One of the potential operating principles for the wearable computingdevice 40 relates to a change of leakage values due to touching of theconductive fibers 41A, 41B. As an example, a reduction in the resistancevalue below a certain level due to contact with the conducting fiberscreates a logical 0 or 1 that the integrated circuit 44 uses todetermine the position of contact with the flexible touch pad 42. Asanother example, when the conductive fibers 41A, 41B are electricallyisolated with low current the conductive fibers 41A, 41B may createlogical 0 or 1.

Another of the potential operating principles for the wearable computingdevice 40 relates to a change of resistance values due to touching ofthe fibers 41A, 41B. This change of resistance values due to touching ofthe fibers 41A, 41B creates a current signal or voltage drop.

When there is pressure inputs (comparable to the press of a button)nodes 45 may generated between intersecting conductive fibers 41A, 41B.FIG. 14 shows two pressure inputs 43A, 43B that create three nodes 45.Changes in resistance of an intersection between a horizontal conductingfiber 41A and a vertical conducting fiber 41B creates a node 45 thatdetermines a location of a contact with the flexible touch pad 42. Thephysical position of these nodes 45 on the touch sensitive display 42establish a user input to the wearable computing device 40.

Forms of the wearable computing device 40 are contemplated whereinformation may not be limited to logical 0 and 1. As an example, astate in between logic 0 and 1 is possible where this state is used toevaluate the level of pressure.

The wearable computing device 40 may provide for physical separationbetween an input device and an application that is performed by thewearable computing device 40. As an example, this separation may inhibitvandalism or any unwanted engagement with other electronics that receiveinput from wearable computing device 40.

The wearable computing device 40 may also be made in relatively largesizes. The wearable computing device 40 may be made larger merely byadding additional conductive fibers 41A, 41B. The resolution of thewearable computing device 40 will depend in part on how many conductivefibers 41A, 41B are included relatively to size of the wearablecomputing device 40. The wearable computing device 40 described hereinmay also be cost effective to manufacture.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus 1500 incorporatingat least one wearable computing device 1, 10, 20, 30, 40 describedherein. Electronic apparatus 1500 is merely one example of an electronicapparatus in which forms of the wearable computing devices 1, 10, 20,30, 40 described herein may be used. Examples of an electronic apparatus1500 include, but are not limited to, personal computers, tabletcomputers, mobile telephones, game devices, MP3 or other digital mediaplayers, etc. In this example, electronic apparatus 1500 comprises adata processing system that includes a system bus 1502 to couple thevarious components of the electronic apparatus 1500. System bus 1502provides communications links among the various components of theelectronic apparatus 1500 and may be implemented as a single bus, as acombination of busses, or in any other suitable manner.

An electronic apparatus 1500 as describe herein may be coupled to systembus 1502. The electronic apparatus 1500 may include any circuit orcombination of circuits. In one embodiment, the electronic apparatus1500 includes a processor 1512 which can be of any type. As used herein,“processor” means any type of computational circuit, such as but notlimited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a complex instructionset computing (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing(RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW)microprocessor, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor (DSP),multiple core processor, or any other type of processor or processingcircuit.

Other types of circuits that may be included in electronic apparatus1500 are a custom circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC), or the like, such as, for example, one or more circuits (such asa communications circuit 1514) for use in wireless devices like mobiletelephones, tablet computers, laptop computers, two-way radios, andsimilar electronic systems. The IC can perform any other type offunction.

The electronic apparatus 1500 may also include an external memory 1520,which in turn may include one or more memory elements suitable to theparticular application, such as a main memory 1522 in the form of randomaccess memory (RAM), one or more hard drives 1524, and/or one or moredrives that handle removable media 1526 such as compact disks (CD),flash memory cards, digital video disk (DVD), and the like.

The electronic apparatus 1500 may also include a display device 1516,one or more speakers 1518, and a keyboard and/or controller 1530, whichcan include a mouse, trackball, touch pad, voice-recognition device, orany other device that permits a system user to input information intoand receive information from the electronic apparatus 1500.

To better illustrate the wearable computing devices 1, 10, 20, 30, 40disclosed herein, a non-limiting list of examples is provided herein:

Example 1 includes a wearable computing device. The wearable computingdevice includes a flexible touch pad configured to be worn by a user andan integrated circuit mounted to the flexible touch pad. The integratedcircuit interprets contact with the flexible touch pad. A transceiver ismounted to the flexible touch pad. The transceiver sends and receivessignals to and from a separate electronic device.

Example 2 includes the wearable computing device of example 1, whereinthe flexible touch pad is configured to be mounted directly to theuser's body.

Example 3 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples1-2, wherein the flexible touch pad are configured to be incorporatedinto a textile.

Example 4 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples1-3, and further including a detachment mechanism for selectivelyattaching the wearable computing device to the user's body.

Example 5 includes the wearable computing device of example 4, whereinthe detachment mechanism includes a hook-and-loop fastening system forselective attachment of the wearable computing device to a textile wornby the user.

Example 6 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples4-5, wherein the separate electronic device is configured to be worn bythe user.

Example 7 includes a wearable computing device. The wearable computingdevice includes a flexible touch pad configured to be worn by a user.The flexible touch pad includes a first transmission line and anintegrated circuit mounted to the flexible touch pad. The integratedcircuit configured to interpret contact with the flexible touch pad bysending a first electrical signal through the first transmission lineand determining a localized change in impedance in the firsttransmission line.

Example 8 includes the wearable computing device of example 7, whereinthe flexible touch pad includes a second transmission line, and theintegrated circuit interprets contact with the flexible touch pad bysending a second electrical signal through the second transmission lineand determining a localized change in impedance in the secondtransmission line.

Example 9 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples7-8, wherein the first electrical signal and the second electricalsignal are each radio frequency signals.

Example 10 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples7-9, wherein the first transmission line meanders back and forth fromside to side over the flexible touch pad without crossing the firsttransmission line, and the second transmission line meanders back andforth from side to side over the flexible touch pad without crossing thesecond transmission line.

Example 11 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples7-10, wherein the integrated circuit determines the localized change inimpedance in the first transmission line using time domain reflectometryand determines the localized change in impedance in the secondtransmission line using time domain reflectometry.

Example 12 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples9-11, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmissionline cross each other at several locations.

Example 13 includes the wearable computing device of example 12, whereinthe first transmission line and the second transmission line areorthogonal to one another where the first transmission line and thesecond transmission line cross each other.

Example 14 includes a wearable computing device. The wearable computingdevice includes a flexible touch pad configured to be worn by a user.The flexible touch pad includes a first optical fiber and a secondoptical fiber. The flexible touch pad further includes a first detectorat an end of the first optical fiber and a second detector at an end ofthe second optical fiber. An integrated circuit is mounted to theflexible touch pad. The integrated circuit configured to interpretcontact with the flexible touch pad by sending radiation through thefirst and second optical fibers to the respective first and seconddetectors. The radiation propagates between the first and second opticalfibers when the first and second optical fibers are forced near eachother due to contact with the flexible touch pad. The location of thecontact with the touch pad is determined by analyzing the radiationpropagation times through the first and second optical fibers to therespective first and second detectors.

Example 15 includes the wearable computing device of example 14, whereinthe radiation is light.

Example 16 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples14-15, wherein the first optical fiber meanders back and forth from sideto side over the flexible touch pad without crossing, and wherein thesecond optical fiber meanders back and forth from side to side over theflexible touch pad without crossing, and wherein the first optical fiberand the second optical fiber cross each other at several locations.

Example 17 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples14-16, wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fibercontact each other due to contact with the flexible touch pad, whereinthe radiation propagation times are determined by measuring the amounttime it takes for (i) a first radiation to travel through the firstoptical fiber to the second optical fiber then to the second detector;and (ii) a second radiation to travel through the second optical fiberto the first optical fiber then to the first detector.

Example 18 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples14-17, wherein the first radiation is at a different frequency than thesecond radiation.

Example 19 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples14-18, wherein the first and second optical fibers each include a corethrough which the radiation propagates and a cladding with lower indexof refraction than the core for enabling reflection at an interfacebetween the cores and the respective claddings.

Example 20 includes the wearable computing device of example 19, whereinthe claddings are compressible to facilitate moving the cores togetherupon contacting the flexible touch pad, and wherein the cores may becompressible to increase surface area contact between the cores uponcontacting the flexible touch pad.

Example 21 includes a wearable computing device. The wearable computingdevice includes a flexible touch pad configured to be worn by a user.The flexible touch pad includes a plurality of conducting fibersarranged in an intersecting configuration over the flexible touch pad.An integrated circuit is mounted to the flexible touch pad. Theintegrated circuit interprets contact with the flexible touch pad bydetecting a change in resistance between intersecting conducting fibers.

Example 22 includes the wearable computing device of example 21, whereinthe plurality of conducting fibers are arranged in an intersectinghorizontal and vertical configuration.

Example 23 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples21-22, wherein each conducting fiber is electrically isolated from everyother conducting fiber until there is contact with the flexible touchpad.

Example 24 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples21-23, wherein the conducting fibers carry electrical signals.

Example 25 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples21-24, wherein a reduction in the resistance value below a certain leveldue to contact with the conducting fibers creates a logical 0 or 1 thatthe integrated circuit uses to determine the position of contact withthe flexible touch pad.

Example 26 includes the wearable computing device of any one of examples21-25, wherein changes in resistance of an intersection between ahorizontal conducting fiber and a vertical conducting fiber creates anode that determines a location of a contact with the flexible touchpad.

Example 27 includes a wearable computing device. The wearable computingdevice includes a flexible touch pad configured to be worn by a userthat wears the wearable computing device and an integrated circuitmounted to the flexible touch pad. The integrated circuit detectscontact with the flexible touch pad when the contact is made only by theuser that is wearing the wearable computing device and no other users.

Example 28 includes the wearable computing device of example 27, whereinthe integrated circuit determines that contact is made with the flexibletouch pad only by the user that is wearing the wearable computing deviceand no other users by sending an electrical signal through the user'sskin, and wherein the flexible touch pad only recognizes contact withthe flexible touch pad when the contact passes the electrical signal tothe flexible touch pad.

Example 29 includes the wearable computing device of example 28, whereinthe integrated circuit sends an electrical signal through the user'sskin to the user's finger. This overview is intended to providenon-limiting examples of the present subject matter. It is not intendedto provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation. The detaileddescription is included to provide further information about themethods.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred toherein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition tothose shown or described. However, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described areprovided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms“including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device,article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements inaddition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemedto fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the followingclaims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merelyas labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements ontheir objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allowthe reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure.It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used tointerpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be groupedtogether to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted asintending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim.Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of aparticular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that suchembodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations orpermutations. The scope of the invention should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

1. A wearable computing device, comprising: a flexible touch pad configured to be worn by a user, the flexible touch pad including a first transmission line; and an integrated circuit mounted to the flexible touch pad, the integrated circuit configured to interpret contact with the flexible touch pad by sending a first electrical signal through the first transmission line and determining a localized change in impedance in the first transmission line.
 2. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the flexible touch pad includes a second transmission line, and the integrated circuit interprets contact with the flexible touch pad by sending a second electrical signal through the second transmission line and determining a localized change in impedance in the second transmission line.
 3. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal are each radio frequency signals.
 4. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the first transmission line meanders back and forth from side to side over the flexible touch pad without crossing the first transmission line, and the second transmission line meanders back and forth from side to side over the flexible touch pad without crossing the second transmission line.
 5. The wearable computing device of claim 4, wherein the integrated circuit determines the localized change in impedance in the first transmission line using time domain reflectometry and determines the localized change in impedance in the second transmission line using time domain reflectometry.
 6. The wearable computing device of claim 5, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line cross each other at several locations.
 7. The wearable computing device of claim 6, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are orthogonal to one another where the first transmission line and the second transmission line cross each other. 